By David Riccio
January 17, 2005
WESTS TIGERS will play a pre-season trial match against an Italian team in Ulladulla on the NSW south coast next month.
Tickets to the historic match on Sunday, February 5 are on sale now.
The Italian team is expected to be made up of Australian-based players of Italian descent - and they will be pushing for selection in the Italian national team to play France at the end of the year.
"Most players are of Jim Beam Cup standard. There is some talent there," Italian team coach David Riolo said.
"And there's a fairly strong Italian presence around Mollymook and Ulladulla so I'm sure the Tigers won't have all the support."
Tigers head trainer Bryan Hider said each member of the first-grade squad, including Benji Marshall and Ben Galea and new signings Paul Whatuira and Matthew Rieck, would take part in the trial.
"It will be a good opportunity for the players to finally play some footy," Hider said.
"It's also a good chance for the new players at the club to show what they're capable of."
In their other two trials they'll play Manly at Leichhardt Oval on February 19 and Canberra at Campbelltown on March 5.
The Daily Telegraph
